Gaincorp GCA50A Russian Beriev A-50 Mainstay Airborne Warning and Control Aircraft - "Red 51", 2457th SDRLO, Ivanovo Severny AB, Russia, 2007 (1:130 Scale)"Their [US] defense budget in absolute figures is almost 25 times bigger than Russia's. This is what in defense is referred to as 'their home - their fortress'. And good on them, I say. Well done! But this means that we also need to build our home and make it strong and well protected. We see, after all, what is going on in the world. The Comrade Wolf knows who to eat, as the saying goes. It knows who to eat and is not about to listen to anyone, it seems."- Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking to the Federal Assembly in his 2006 annual address

The Beriev A-50 Shmel (Russian: 'bumble bee'), (NATO reporting name: Mainstay) is a Russian airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft based on the Ilyushin Il-76 transport. Developed to replace the Tupolev Tu-126 'Moss', the A-50 first flew in 1978. It entered service in 1984, with about 40 produced by 1992.

The mission personnel of the 15-man crew derive data from the large Liana surveillance radar with its antenna in an over-fuselage rotordome, which has a diameter of 29 ft 9 in (9.00 m).

The A-50 can control up to 10 fighter aircraft for either air-to-air intercept or air-to-ground attack missions. The A-50 is capable of flying for 4 hours at a 1000 km from its base at a maximum takeoff weight of 190 tons. The aircraft can be refuelled by Il-78 tankers, although some sources indicates flight tests showed that aerial refueling was all but impossible because the rotodome would hit turbulence from the tanker, causing severe buffeting.

The radar "Vega-M" is designed by MNIIP, Moscow, and produced by NPO Vega. The "Vega-M" is capable of tracking up to 50 targets simultaneously within 230 kilometers. Large targets, like surface ships, can be tracked at a distance of 400 km.

Pictured here is a 1:130 scale diecast replica of a Russian Beriev A-50 Mainstay Airborne Warning and Control Aircraft. Two pieces left in stock!

Historical Account: "Zhukovka" - Ivanovo Severny (also Ivanovo North or Zhukovka) is an air base in Russia located 6 km north of Ivanovo. It is a large transport operation airfield with hangars and significant tarmac space. The runway was built in 1935 and upgraded in 1965. The airfield received the Soviet Union's first Ilyushin Il-76 delivery on June 3rd, 1974.

Ivanovo Severny was home to 81 VTAP (81st Military Transport Aviation Regiment) flying Il-76, An-12, and An-22 aircraft. It was decommissioned in 1998. It is also home to 2457 Air Base of SDRLO flying the Beriev A-50.